The transformation of access and veto points in Swiss federalism

Abstract:

This article aims to delineate changes in the institutions of Swiss federalism. It shows that that the 'old' instruments of federalism, established in the nineteenth century, still represent strong veto points which enable the small, conservative and rural cantons to block national policy decisions. Urban cantons, on the other hand, resort to the 'new' institutions of federalism, developed in the course of the twentieth century, in order to influence the federal policy formulation process. Furthermore, cantonal governments have opened up informal channels of influence in order to compensate for their loss of power in the course of the strengthening of direct democracy.